What is Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL)?

By CMC AI
29 December 2025 09:17PM (UTC+0)

TLDR

Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) is a decentralized infrastructure layer enabling the creation, ownership, and monetization of AI agents in virtual environments like gaming and social platforms.

  1. AI x Metaverse Integration – Bridges AI and virtual worlds for dynamic interactions.

  2. Co-owned AI Agents – Community-driven ownership via tokenization.

  3. Ethereum & Solana-Based – Leverages Layer 2 (Base) and cross-chain interoperability.

Deep Dive

1. Purpose & Value Proposition

Virtuals Protocol aims to democratize AI agent development by allowing users to co-create and profit from autonomous digital entities. These agents operate in gaming, social media, and metaverse environments, generating revenue through services like automated trading, virtual influencer engagement (Crypto.com), and data analysis. By tokenizing agents, the protocol ensures contributors share ownership and rewards, fostering a decentralized ecosystem.

2. Technology & Architecture

Built on Ethereum’s Layer 2 solution (Base) and Solana, Virtuals uses smart contracts to manage AI agent creation, governance, and transactions. Key innovations include:
- Initial Agent Offerings (IAOs): Fair launches for AI agents as tradable assets.
- Immutable Contribution Vaults (ICVs): Tracks and rewards contributions to agent development.
- Cross-Chain Interoperability: Agents function across Ethereum, Base, and Solana (OKX Whitepaper).

3. Ecosystem Fundamentals

The protocol hosts a growing ecosystem of AI agents, such as:
- Luna: A 24/7 AI livestreamer accepting on-chain tips.
- aixbt: Analyzes crypto markets using AI.
- Ribbita: Decentralized trading bots.
Developers and users earn fees from agent usage, while $VIRTUAL tokens govern upgrades and treasury allocations.

Conclusion

Virtuals Protocol reimagines AI collaboration by merging blockchain ownership with autonomous agents, creating a new paradigm for decentralized virtual economies. How will its focus on co-owned AI reshape user engagement in the metaverse?

CMC AI can make mistakes. Not financial advice.